Tag : Canada

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for February 27.

Vancouver:

The City of Vancouver received a lot of backlash from its new redesigned logo that cost $8,000. The design community within the city created an open letter criticizing the simplistic font and design that fails to represent Vancouver’s culture and diversity. Many took to social media to show nearly identical concepts they created on Microsoft word in 10 minutes, which makes us wonder how that costs $8,000?

Canada:

Canada experienced a major spike in tourism over the past year. The tourism office reports that in 2016, 20-million international travellers visited our great land, which was 17 per cent increase from 2015, and the highest in 14 years. Many of these travellers were reported to be from US, which begs the question is President Trump accidentally making Canada great again?

US:

The Trump administration is moving to revoke federal guidelines that allow transgender students to use bathrooms of their chosen identity. Sean Spicer spoke on Wednesday that the previous Obama-era regulations were confusing and hard to implement and therefore need to be removed. News of the change sparked outrage in the transgender community due to the potential for discrimination they will face.

International:

The president of Iceland had some rather strong words towards pineapple pizza. When speaking to high school students, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson expressed that he was “fundamentally opposed” to pineapples on pizza. He went on to explain that if he could, he would ban the controversial pizza topping. Of course, many on Twitter took this to heart leaving scathing reactions to the president’s opinion. He had to since clarify that he will not be placing any bans on tropical pizza toppings.

Tech:

Now almond milk can be made from the comfort of your home in 30 seconds. The Almond Cow takes pre-soaked almonds and using a coffee grinder-like system can make almond milk within seconds. One half cup of almonds will reap 1.3 liters of delicious almond milk. Funded through Kickstarter, this successful campaign raised more than $100,000.

Science:

NASA announced a discovery that brings us closer to finding life on other planets. The nearby star called TRAPPIST-1 was uncovered along with seven Earth-like planets in its orbit. Due to their location, three of those planets were deemed hopeful candidates to host living organisms. It’s proximity to Earth is so close that it would take us about 20 days to make the journey. It’s very possible we’re going to see E.T. within our lifetimes.

Entertainment:

TV and Film actor Bill Paxton passed away last week at the age of 61. The cause of death was due to complications from surgery. Bill Paxton was accredited in major movies such as Apollo 13, Titanic and Aliens and was currently starring in the CBS drama Training Day that started on February 2nd. The network hasn’t commented on whether they will continue airing the season.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for February 20th

Vancouver:

Travelling from Vancouver to Seattle could take as little as an hour in the future. Washington State is studying how to implement a high-speed train that connects the west coast cities Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. The research will determine if the multi-billion dollar service is even worth constructing and scheduled to be presented no later than December 2017.

Canada:

If you’re an international student, come to Canada! The 2017 QS Best Student City released the top destinations for international students and Montreal ranked first above Paris and London. The top destinations were chosen by affordability, student mix, employer activity and desirability. Vancouver is the only other Canadian city to make the list landing in the 10th spot.

US:

President Trump attended a rally in Melbourne, Florida where he continued his usual ramblings about terrorism abroad. This time, he mentioned the terrorist attack in Sweden, which he used towards his anti-immigration campaign. Sweden among the rest of the world was immediately confused because no such attack existed. Trump later mentioned he received this information from a Fox News report because who needs an intelligence agency when you have cable, right?

International:

The half-brother of North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un was assassinated in Malaysia earlier last week after a strange turn of events. Kim Jong-nam was walking near a Starbucks when two female assassins approached; one distracted the estranged brother while the other sprayed liquid in his face. The brother passed away shortly after on the way to the hospital. The assailant was arrested and said she was paid to do a hidden camera prank show where they spray unsuspecting people in the face with water but for Kim Jong-nam the liquid was switched with poison.

Tech:

Dubai is planning to release their fleet of self-flying taxis as early as July. These four-legged drones have eight propellers and can seat a passenger weighing up to 220lbs. By entering the destination on a touchscreen the drone will whisk the occupant away at speeds up to 160km per hour. So far, 180 of the Chinese made vehicles have been tested in Dubai’s aerospace.

Science:

Scientists are on the verge or resurrecting the prehistoric Wooly Mammoth within the next seven years. Using the embryo from an Asian elephant as the template, they can modify it with extracted genetic information from the extinct mammal to create an almost exact DNA pattern. The question remains whether reintroducing a prehistoric animal to an ecosystem will be beneficial or detrimental. Meanwhile, we’re all just waiting for Jurassic Park to open.

Entertainment:

Harrison Ford accidentally landed his plane on the wrong runway nearly causing a crash. Harrison realized something was off when he flew over a Boeing 737 on the taxiway. He was recorded on the flight traffic controller’s radio saying, “ Was that airliner supposed to be beneath me?” The Starwars alumni previously crashed a plane into a golf course in 2015; he sustained heavy injuries while having no recollection of how it happened. It’s about time Han Solo let someone else fly the Millennial Falcon.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for January 30th:

Vancouver:

The Chinese Lunar New Year Parade kicked off in downtown Vancouver to celebrate the year of the rooster. Some notable attendees included mayor Gregor Robertson and even our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who made a stop on his cross-country tour.

Canada:

Two men have been arrested in the heinous terrorist attack that claimed the lives of six people, injuring 14 in a Quebec City mosque last night. The motives are still unclear but it comes at a time during heightened tensions stemming from anti-Muslim groups that have been vocal around the city.

US:

After Donald Trump issued a nation-wide ban on Muslims entering the US, the streets filled with protests condemning his executive order. The countries listed are Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, which were deemed hot beds for Islamic extremism despite having no ties to terrorist attacks in the US. One thing is for sure; Donald Trumps divisive politics are actually bringing everyone together in solidarity.

International:

The Russian city of Rostov-on-Don experienced a strange phenomenon involving pillars of light emitting from the sky. People took to social media to show the beautiful display of nature, which turns out, was caused by light reflecting from crystals close to the ground.

Tech:

An innovative approach to reducing food waste sent to the landfill raised six times its goal on Indiegogo. The Zera Food Recycler serves as a collection bin for scraps, which turns it into nutrient rich fertilizer in just 24 hours with no smell. By placing a paper additive packet containing coconut husk fibers and baking soda in the machine, it chops them up with the waste and creates fertilizer. Science for the win!

Science:

A patient at Toronto General Hospital survived an incredible procedure that removed her lungs for six days. The dying mother had severely infected lungs that required immediate removal. The lungs were extracted and she was kept alive for six days until they could do a lung transplant. It’s believed to be first time this procedure has been performed.

Entertainment:

The 23rd annual SAG Awards kicked off this weekend. It wasn’t long before the Hollywood elite stepped up to voice their disdain towards the proposed Muslim ban issued by the president earlier in the week. Ashton Kutcher, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Emma Stone and Bryan Cranston were just a few that had some words of criticism.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for January 16th:

Vancouver:

According to a new poll, Mayor Robertson has the lowest approval rating of ten major city mayors across the country. Sitting at only 50%, Robertson also proved to be the most polarizing, with the highest percentage of residents ‘strongly supporting’ and ‘strongly opposing’ him. It’s those bikes lines I tell ya.

Canada:

Our Prime Minister is in some hot water over his vacation plans during New Years. He’s being investigated by the ethics commissioner for potentially violating several conflict of interest statues for accepting flights and trips from the Aga Khan over the holiday. This makes Trudeau the first sitting Prime Minister to ever be investigated by the ethics department.

US:

So the day nearly upon us. On Friday, Donald J. Trump will be officially sworn in as the next President of the United States. Not that anyone will be around to see it; there’s no prominent music acts, no celebrities, and a growing number of absent politicians and senators. Where is everyone? They’ll all be at the Women’s March the next day. Unless you’re a fan of Three Doors Down….they’ll be performing at the inauguration, and then go back to performing at Chuck E. Cheese, where they’ve been the house band since 2002.

International:

As the British Prime Minister gets ready to reveal the plans for Brexit, the British Pound is at the lowest it has ever been in over 30 years. Theresa May will outline exactly how Britain will leave the EU on Tuesday, meanwhile Trump has called Brexit “a great thing” and slammed the EU as a “vehicle for Germany.” The Germans are not amused.

Tech:

Following a two-year investigation, Amazon has been fined $1M for misleading Canadian consumers with false pricing. It all came down to how they allowed sellers to list ‘suggested retail pricing’, which they have since changed. Not that a $1M fine means anything to a company that made $30B last year.

Science:

A group of researchers from Pennsylvania have discovered a way to regenerate skin cells, meaning they can completely eliminate scar tissue. The trick is apparently to encourage hair regrowth first, causing the body to increase fat cells around the wound and eliminating scar tissue.

Entertainment:

After 146 years, the Ringling Brothers are shutting down the Greatest Show on Earth. Declining ticket sales, competition and animal rights complaints have led the company to pull the curtain on the circus. To be fair, I can’t think of anyone that has gone to the circus in 20 years, so they may have a point.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for January 9th:

Vancouver:

For those that may not have heard, BBTV is making a serious push into new global marketplaces with expansions into Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt. Expect to see BBTV grow substantially more in the next few years.

Canada:

Alberta doesn’t seem to be recovering, or at least not nearly as fast as many predicted. Two and a half years in and the oil slump continues to hammer the province, with unemployment at a provincial high. One solution being presented is to ask for the Federal Government to invest in a sustainable fund that would encourage junior exploration and defunct oil rig clean up work.

US:

This is a crucial week for Trump and his nominees, with his cabinet picks undergoing confirmation hearings with questions ranging from civil rights abuse allegations to Russian business ties. Trump will also hold an official press conference this week, the first since July.

International:

North Korea has claimed they have the capability to launch nuclear missiles into the US “at any time.” So far there is no proof, and it appears the N. Koreans are waiting to see what policy changes will come into effect with Trump’s administration.

Tech:

Norway will be the first country to officially kill FM radio. The country is transitioning all radio broadcasts over to digital radio, something some are saying is too soon as it will leave millions of homes and vehicles without the ability to tune in. Plans are in motion for the same to happen in Switzerland, Britain and Denmark.

Science:

The Orca that terrified you in the documentary ‘Blackfish’ has died. Tilikum the killer whale (totally intention pun) died of a bacterial infection last week. Tilikum was 36 years old and responsible for the deaths of three people.

Entertainment:

Last night’s Golden Globes awarded La La Land all seven awards it was nominated for (I mean it’s a movie with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dancing and singing, how could that NOT be good?). Meanwhile Meryl Streep took six minutes to destroy Trump, no one does it quite like Meryl.